Ten years on from its release, Vasiliki “VASSY” Karagiorgos is still reaping the rewards of her hit song ‘Bad’ with an event organised in her honour to celebrate it reaching two billion streams on digital platforms.
The Greek Australian artist was the subject of massive praise from APRA AMCOS, the music rights management organisation that has represented her since the early days of her career, with an event held at its Sydney headquarters on Wednesday afternoon.
The event featured the organisation’s CEO, Dean Ormston, who spoke highly of VASSY and officially handed her the award to mark the great milestone she achieved with her song.
The celebration included a Q&A section wherein VASSY elaborated on the origins of ‘Bad’ and the interesting journey it took from initial creation to the final product while also discussing the challenges and benefits that have come from her pursuing a career in USA.
VASSY then closed the event with a live performance of three of her songs, sending the guests in attendance home on a high note.
The Greek Australian musician was incredibly appreciative of the gesture shown by APRA AMCOS, telling Neos Kosmos “I felt very honoured today to be recognised and acknowledged. It was special”.
Addressing the milestone itself, she stated that she is incredibly proud with how the 2014 song has continued to grow, having already reached two billion streams just a few years after it passed the one million mark.
“It is just really amazing that a song that I wrote ten years ago still to this day is doing so well… Sometimes, artists have that one record that just carries through and this is that song for me,” VASSY told Neos Kosmos.
“I am just really proud that I did it. I wish my dad would have been alive to see it because I feel like he would have understood that and been able to say Μπράβο σου (Bravo to you).”
She admitted that she still is taken aback when she reflects on her musical journey, particularly given her humble beginnings.
“When I started, I was just a girl from Darwin who grew up in a Greek family and had no exposure to anything. Honestly, I was a little sheltered,” the artist said.
“It is surreal when I think back and I wonder to myself ‘How did I even do this?’, especially in doing it on my own and in a credible way, a way that my father would be proud.”
VASSY remarked that she has had such a fruitful career that “if I do not accomplish anything else in my career, I can definitely live with and be extremely proud with what I have done”.
The singer noted the huge role APRA AMCOS have played in her career, stating they were among the first people to recognise her talent and spearheaded her growth by giving her a Professional Development Award.
“Because of that award, which involved them giving me something close to $15,000, I got my ticket and went to America which was the beginning of my international success,” she said.
VASSY expressed that she deeply appreciated the event, giving her a sense of validation for her talent and the hard work that went into making it in the music industry.
“It is an example of what an Australian artist can accomplish and also, being a woman, all the odds were against me and yet here I am, having succeeded in such a difficult and male-driven business.
VASSY stressed her hope that people can find elements from her successful story that can inspire them in their own respective journeys.
“I think it is nice when people see it because then a piece of them can relate or take that as motivation as well to empower them in what they want to do in their life and accomplish their dreams.”
